Apparatus for processing a time-division multiplex video signal having signal durations divisible by the same number

Abstract

A video signal apparatus processes a time-division-multiplex (TDM) video signal. The TDM signal includes a compressed sync, a compressed chrominance component constituting a series of time compressed samples of a chrominance component of a color video signal, a compressed luminance component constituting a series of time compressed samples of a luminance component of the color video signal and a buffer between the compressed chrominance component and compressed luminance component. The durations of each of the compressed sync, the compressed chrominance component, the compressed luminance component and the buffer are divisible by the same number (preferably an integral number) greater than one in order to reduce the speed, cost and complexity of timing and control circuitry.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Video signal apparatus comprising: circuit means for producing from a color video signal having a sync signal portion including a sync signal and a video portion including concurrent luminance and chrominance component signals, a time-division-multiplex (TDM) video signal including a compressed sync signal which has a duration less than said sync signal of said color video signal, a compressed chrominance component constituting a series of time compressed samples of equal sample duration of the chrominance component of said composite color video signal, a compressed luminance component constituting a series of time compressed samples of equal sample duration of the luminance component of said composite color video signal and a buffer between the compressed chrominance component and the compressed luminance component; and   control means for controlling said circuit means so that the duration of each of said compressed sync signal, said compressed chrominance component, said compressed luminance component and said buffer of said TDM signal is equal to an integral multiple of said sample duration and each said TDM signal duration is divisible by the same integral number greater than one.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means includes means for generating a sampling signal having a frequency F and wherein said sampling signal is applied to said circuit means (1) to produce said compressed chrominance and luminance components with samples having a duration 1/F and (2) to produce said compressed sync and said buffer having a duration so as to have respective durations which are an integral multiple of the sample duration 1/F. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said circuit means produces said compressed chrominance component comprising two separate compressed chrominance components of said color video signal and wherein said control means controls said circuit means so that the duration of each of said compressed sync, signal buffer, two compressed chrominance components and compressed luminance component is integrally divisible by said number. 
     
     
       4. Time-division-multiplex (TDM) video signal apparatus comprising: means for providing a color video signal having a sync signal portion, and a video portion having a chrominance component signal, and a luminance component signal concurrent in time with said chrominance component signal;   circuit means coupled to said providing means for producing, from said color video signal, a TDM color video signal having in time sequential order, a compressed sync signal, a compressed chrominance component signal, a first buffer and a compressed luminance component signal wherein each of said compressed chrominance and luminance component signals constitute a series of time-compressed samples of equal sample duration; and   control means for controlling said circuit means so that the durations of said compressed sync signal, said compressed chrominance component signal, said buffer and said compressed luminance component signal respectively of said TDM color video signal are equal to an integral multiple of said sample duration and each such TDM signal duration is divisible by the same integral number greater than one.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said providing means provides said color video signal having said chrominance component signal comprising separate first and second chrominance component signals; wherein said circuit means produces said TDM video signal having said compressed chrominance component signal comprising in time sequential order a compressed first chrominance component signal, a second buffer, and a compressed second chrominance component signal, and wherein said compressed first and second chrominance component signals constitute a series of time-compressed samples of said equal sample duration; and   wherein said control means controls the duration, respectively, of said compressed sync, of said compressed first component signal, of said first buffer, of said compressed second chrominance component signal, of said second buffer and of said second compressed luminance component signal of said TDM signal so that each such duration is equal to an integral multiple of said sample duration and is divisible by the same integral number greater than one.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said compressed sync signal includes a compressed H sync signal, a compressed black level signal and a compressed chrominance level signal which is a function of the black and white levels of the color video signal, whereby the duration of each of said signals (1) is an integral multiple of said sample duration and (2) is divisible by said integral number greater than one. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said H sync signal, said black level signal and said chrominance level signal are equal in duration.